JPS63306103A - Article part collecting facility - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To aim at enhancing the working efficiency and at preventing erroneous work in an article collecting facility in which a mobile incorporating a working data memory device is moved along racks, by arranging sorting data transmitting means, corresponding to the respective racks. CONSTITUTION:Indicating lamps 23 for and indicating articles to be taken out, are arranged corresponding to rack positions in each rack section 2. When a light illuminated type push button on a pick rack indicating part in a display panel 5 on a mobile A is performed, signals are transmitted between a communication mean 18 on the mobile A and a communication means 17 on a rack B so that the corresponding lamp 23 is turned on. When a light-illuminated work completing button is performed, the instruction is ceased. With this arrangement, sorted information from the rack section is automatically inputted through the communication between the rack and the mobile, thereby it is possible to aim at enhancing the working efficiency and at preventing erroneous input.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to an article collection facility used to collect multiple types of articles according to shipping destinations, and more specifically, to a mobile vehicle equipped with an article storage section. is provided, a shelf for storing a plurality of types of articles in different categories is arranged along the longitudinal direction of the moving vehicle travel path, and a storage means for storing work data for collecting articles from the shelf, Destination information indicating means is provided on the moving vehicle side and instructs which of the shelf sections partitioned in the longitudinal direction of the shelf to travel to, based on information in the storage means, and Article retrieval information instructing means is provided for instructing information for retrieving articles from each shelf section for each shelf section based on the information in the storage means and sorting information for sorting which of the shelf sections it belongs to. Concerning goods collection facilities.

[Conventional technology]

Such article collection equipment operates in the following steps: based on destination information, a mobile vehicle is driven to a shelf section storing articles to be taken out, and the articles taken out based on article extraction information are stored in an article storage section. It will be done.

Incidentally, each shelf section generally stores multiple types of articles, so when specifying article retrieval information, instructions must be given so that the type and quantity of articles to be retrieved can be known. There is a need to.

By the way, in order to instruct the article retrieval information for each shelf section, the article retrieval information instructing means transmits the sorting information of the shelf section to the article retrieval information instructing means. It is possible to set it manually.

In other words, each shelf is given a number in advance for sorting them, and a numerical setting device is installed on the moving vehicle.
Thus, when the vehicle travels to each shelf, the operator uses a numerical value setting device to input the number of the shelf.

In addition, when each shelf part is sorted using numbers in this way, work data for collecting goods is created in a format that allows work data for taking out goods from each shelf part to be sorted using numbers. Of course. (Conventional documents cannot be memorized.) [Problem to be solved by the invention] If the sorting information of the shelf section is input using a numerical value setting device, the operation of inputting the sorting information is time-consuming and cumbersome. This has the disadvantage of making it difficult to improve work efficiency, and there is also the risk that incorrect article removal information may be instructed due to numerical input errors, leading to work errors.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned circumstances, and its purpose is to automatically input sorting information on shelves, and to
The present invention is designed to be able to perform the operation accurately regardless of positional fluctuations in the width direction of the moving vehicle.

[Means for solving problems]

A characteristic configuration of the article collection equipment according to the present invention is such that communication means for transmitting sorting information for sorting each of the shelf sections partitioned in the longitudinal direction of the shelf corresponds to each of the shelf sections. The communication means for receiving the information of the communication means is provided on the moving vehicle in a state of transmitting the received information to the article retrieval information instruction means, and its operation and effect are as follows. It is as follows.

[For production]

That is, as the mobile vehicle is driven to the shelf section storing the articles to be taken out, the sorting information of the shelf section is automatically inputted by the communication functions of both communication means.

Since the sorting information is input through the communication function, even if the position of the moving vehicle relative to the shelf part changes in the width direction of the vehicle body, in other words, the position of the moving vehicle relative to the shelf part in the width direction of the vehicle body may change. Even if you do not decide the exact position,
Sorting information can be input accurately.

〔Effect of the invention〕

Therefore, no special operation is required to enter the sorting information, which improves work efficiency.Furthermore, the sorting information can be input regardless of the positional change in the width direction of the moving vehicle relative to the shelf. Because accurate input is possible, it has become easier to manage the travel of moving vehicles, and it has also become possible to prevent troubles caused by input errors in sorting information.

〔Example〕

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the article collection equipment includes a mobile vehicle (A) equipped with a storage frame (1) as an article storage section;
A plurality of shelves (B) are provided which store a plurality of types of articles in separate categories and are arranged side by side along the longitudinal direction of the travel path of the mobile vehicle (A).

Each type (B) is divided into a plurality of sections along its longitudinal direction, and each partitioned shelf section (2) is provided with four upper and lower loading sections. Each can store three types of items laterally.

The mobile vehicle (A) has a pair of left and right free wheels (3) arranged at each of the front and rear ends, and a pair of left and right handles (4) for steering.
It is constructed in a so-called handcart type, and is provided with a display panel (5) that also serves as a setting panel near the handle (4). In addition, (6) in the figure is the shelf part (
This is a temporary storage stand for temporarily storing the articles taken out from 2).

The storage frame (1) is provided with three upper and lower shelf sections, and each shelf section stores two containers (7) in the horizontal direction. Note that each container (7) corresponds to a respective shipping destination.

Therefore, the worker must, at the empty container loading point (D),
After loading the empty containers (7) on the container transport vehicle (8) into the storage frame (1), the desired shelf portion (2) is loaded based on the destination information.
The robot runs on the shelf (2), takes out the article based on the article takeout information, and stores the taken out article in a desired container (7) based on the article storage information. When all the operations are completed, the container (7) containing the articles is fed to the collection conveyor (9) at the container unloading location. Furthermore,
In order to obtain work data for collecting goods, which is the basic data for instructing each of the destination information, goods retrieval information, and goods storage information, the vehicle also travels to the data receiving point (F) prior to the work. I will let you do it.

Next, an explanation will be given while describing the control configuration.

As shown in Figure 4, order forms (1
When the contents of 0) are input to the host controller (IC), a purchase order form 1) is created in the host controller (HC) according to the contents of the order form (10), and the purchase order form (10) is created in the host controller (HC).
11) In addition to purchasing goods in accordance with the contents of 11),
Warehousing data (12) of purchased items is also input to the host controller (HC).

The host controller (HC) manages the inventory of various goods, creates work data for collecting goods based on the contents of the order form (10) entered in advance, and sends the work data to the work controller (SC). ). however,
The work data can be classified according to the amount of work performed by one moving vehicle (A), and is formed in such a manner that the type and quantity of articles to be stored in each container (7) can be determined.

The work controller (SC) comprehensively manages the goods collection operation while exchanging various information such as work data with the mobile vehicle controller (IC) provided in the mobile vehicle (A).

The work controller (SC) and the mobile vehicle controller (
Information is exchanged with the controller (13A) for read/write control, ROM (13B), and RAM (13
C) is carried out while using an IC card (13) equipped with the IC card (13) as a storage medium.
A card writer (14) which functions as a writing means for writing work data into the IC card (13) is attached to the work controller (SC), and a card reader (15) which functions as a reading means to read data from the IC card (13).
) is attached to the mobile vehicle controller (IC).

However, (16) in the figure indicates the container (
7) is a printer that creates article slips that are stored separately in each of the printers, and is operated in synchronization with the operation of the card writer (14).

The article slip is used for inspection after the article collection work, and when loading empty containers (7) into the storage frame (1), the containers (7) are placed in a predetermined order. ).

The mobile vehicle controller (IC) is configured to: Indicates destination information for driving the moving vehicle (A), information on taking out articles from the shelf portion (2) where the moving vehicle (A) has traveled, and the container (7) in which the taken out articles are stored and the amount to be put in. Distinguish each piece of storage information and output the information.

In other words, while using the mobile vehicle controller (IC),
A destination information instruction means (100), an article retrieval information instruction means (101), and an article storage information instruction means (102) are configured.

Note that the mobile vehicle controller (IC) is configured using a microcomputer, and of course,
It is equipped with a memory functioning as a storage means, and the IC
With the card (13) set in the mobile vehicle, the work data is stored in the memory.

The destination information consists of a shelf row number pre-assigned to each column (B) and a shelf number pre-assigned to each shelf section (2), and as shown in FIG. In (5),
A shelf row number display section (C+) that lights up the part corresponding to each shelf row number, and a shelf number that lights up the part that corresponds to the shelf number.
A display section (G2) is provided.

However, the shelf row number display section (G1) does not accept IC-cards (13
) is sent to the mobile vehicle side, all shelf row numbers with work are lit up, and as the mobile vehicle (A) travels along the front of the shelf row with work, the corresponding The shelf row number that will be displayed will be blinking. In addition, the shelf number display section (G2
), as the mobile vehicle (A) travels along the front of the shelf row with work, all of the shelf numbers with work in that shelf row are lit, and the mobile vehicle (A) As it is located in front of the shelf part (2) where the work is done, the shelf part (2)
The shelf number is flashing. Therefore, when instructing the destination information, the current position of the mobile vehicle (A) is accurately notified using the classification information.

To explain the configuration for transmitting sorting information to the mobile vehicle as to which of the above columns (B) and which of the above shelf sections (2) it is. At the top of each is a row of shelves N.

The previous generation communication device (17) is provided as a communication means for transmitting the information and shelf number to the moving vehicle using an optical signal, and
The mobile vehicle (
A) is provided.

However, a shelf controller (TC) for controlling the operation of the communication device (17) on the shelf side is provided, and the communication devices (17) and (18) on the shelf side and the mobile vehicle are as follows:
It is also used as a means for transmitting information from the moving vehicle to the shelf for instructing information on taking out articles.

Further, the communication device (17) on the shelf side projects an optical signal toward the moving vehicle aisle side, and the communication device (17) on the moving vehicle side projects an optical signal toward the moving vehicle aisle side.
18) is given directivity so that it receives only signals from the left side of the vehicle body.

The article retrieval information basically consists of the shelf position corresponding to the storage location of each article and the amount of article to be taken out.As shown in FIG. A pick shelf display section (G3) for indicating the position and a pick quantity display section (G4) for indicating the quantity to be taken out from each shelf position are provided.

The pink shelf display section (G3) is provided with a plurality of illuminated push buttons (19) corresponding to each shelf position. These illuminated push buttons (19) are illuminated as the mobile vehicle (A) is positioned in front of the shelf section (2) where work is to be performed, and those corresponding to the shelf positions where work is required are lit. The objects blink when pressed to indicate the next task.

The big quantity display section (G4) is a numerical display section (20)
In addition to displaying the quantity, it also has the following functions. In other words, in order to display whether the item (Xa) is taken out case by case, unit removal is taken out in units of several items, or single item removal is taken out individually. Indicator light (21)
, and a single indicator light (22) are attached, and when both indicator lights (21) and (22) are turned off, the case can be taken out, and when the unit/7 indicator light (21) is turned on, the unit can be taken out. Individual item removal is indicated by lighting of the individual item indicator light (22).

In addition, in order to make instructions for article retrieval information easy to understand, the following configuration is added. That is, as shown in FIG. The indicator lamp (23
) are provided. These indicator lamps (23) are operated as described above (when the illuminated push button (19) is pressed, the information is transmitted to the shelf side using both communication devices (17) and (18)). The corresponding item will light up.

By the way, the item retrieval information instruction is the illuminated push button mentioned above (
The instruction starts when the button 19) is pressed, and stops when the illuminated push button (24) for completing the work provided on the display panel (5) is pressed. .

The illuminated push button (24) for completing the work is turned on when it is determined that storage has been completed in a storage information instruction to be described later, and is turned off when pressed.

The storage information instruction is basically performed by displaying the quantity on the lower storage frame of each container (7), and the storage information is indicated in correspondence with each container (7). Left and right pair of numerical display sections (25a).

(25b) and one illuminated push button (26) for completion of storage.
and is provided.

The pair of left and right numerical display sections (25a) and (25b) are
When one container (7) is partitioned into left and right sides by a partition plate (27), both sides correspond to the left and right container sections, respectively. However, if the partition plate (27) is not installed, only the left numerical display section (25a) is operated.

By the way, whether or not to add cents to the partition plate (27) is determined by tC.
When setting the card (13), both numerical display sections (25
By lighting both a) and (25b),
This is to indicate that a partition plate (27) is required. In addition, when the setting of the partition plate (27) is completed, there is an illuminated push button to complete the storage! Press 0 (26) to operate.

Illuminated push to complete storage! 0 (26) is lit at the same time as the numerical display sections (25a) and (25b) are lit, and is pressed when the storage operation for the corresponding container (7) is completed.

However, the numerical display parts (25a) and (25b) are
Illuminated push to complete storage! 0 (26) is pressed, the light is not turned off, and is turned off when the illuminated push button (24) for completing the work is pressed.

Furthermore, in order to perform the article collection work without errors and efficiently, various means described below are provided.

That is, the display panel (5) is provided with a lamp check push button (28) for the display panel and a lamp check push button (29) for the storage frame, and these push buttons (28),
When (29) is pressed, the entire display panel (5) and the storage frame (1) are turned on. Similarly, each shelf part (2) has a lamp check push S opening (3).
0).

The display panel (5) is provided with a work number display section (G5). This work number display section (G,) includes a numerical display section (31) and a check button (22), and includes a check 10
When (32) is pressed, the work number currently being performed is displayed.

Note that the work number is stored in advance in the IC card (13).

If the communication range of the optical communication devices (17) and (1B) in the rear direction of the moving vehicle is reduced, and the moving vehicle (A) is accidentally run while work is being continued on one shelf section (2), , so that this can be detected as communication failure information. Then, based on the detection information, an alarm buzzer (33
) is configured to operate. Incidentally, when the mobile vehicle (A) returns to its normal state and returns to a communicable state, the alarm buzzer (33) will be stopped.

The display panel (5) is provided with a path 5o (34) for a work path. This bus button (35) is pressed when the user wishes to pass the work due to shortage of items after starting the work by operating the illuminated push button (19) for indicating the shelf position. By the way, if you want to pass all the tasks remaining on the shelf part (2), you will press the pass buttons (35) as many times as there are illuminated push buttons (19) that are lit.

Next, the control operation of the mobile vehicle controller (IC) will be described based on the flowchart shown in FIG.
Add an explanation about the operation of A).

That is, first, a lamp check process is executed, and then a process of reading the information of the sent IC card (13) is executed.

Information 91 After inserting the Si, execute the process of lighting up the shelf row number where the work is to be done, then check whether the work is to be done by installing a partition plate (27), and if it is necessary to install it, The device waits until the completion of installation is instructed by the illuminated push button (26) for completion of storage.

When instructed to complete partition plate installation, the shelf row number where work is to be done
It is checked whether or not it has been received, and if it has been received, a process is executed in which the corresponding shelf row number is blinked and the shelf number in which the work is being performed in that shelf row is lit.

If it is determined through the above check that no reception has been received, it is checked whether the set time has elapsed after no reception, and only if the set time has elapsed, the process of switching the shelf number to the lit state or the shelf Execute processing to turn off the NO light.

By the way, this part of the process is provided as a post-processing when the vehicle travels along the row of shelves to be worked on but does not perform any work or leaves the work behind. be. Also, the reason why the set time is determined is to maintain the previous display state even if communication becomes unavailable while traveling between adjacent shelf sections (2) in one shelf row. .

Thereafter, it is checked whether or not the shelf number with the work to be done has been received. If not, the process moves to the above-mentioned check for receiving the shelf row number. On the other hand, if it is received, it executes the process of blinking the corresponding shelf number and the process of lighting the instruction pusher 1n (19) corresponding to the shelf position where the work is performed,
Next, check whether the push button (19) with the task was pressed.

I will

If the push button (19) is not pressed, shelf N is displayed.

Checks whether reception is continuing or not, and if not, processes to switch the shelf number to light or press S[]
After executing the process of turning off the light (19), the process moves to the above-mentioned check for receiving the shelf row number.

When the push button (19) with work is pressed, the pressed push button (19) blinks, the pick quantity is displayed, the storage quantity is displayed, and the instruction lamp (23) on the shelf side is lit. and turn on the completion button (26) on the storage frame side, and also turn on the unit indicator light (21) or single item indicator light (21) as necessary.
22) executes the process of turning off the light.

Thereafter, it is checked whether the completion button (26) on the storage frame side has been pressed, and if it has not been pressed, it is checked whether or not the reception of shelf numbers is continuing. If it is not continuous, a warning buzzer (33) is activated to prompt the operator to return to the vehicle. In addition, if the process continues, the bus process is executed as necessary while checking the information on the work path push 1o (35).

If it is determined through the above check that the completion button (26) has been pressed, the completion button (26) is turned off, and then all of the completed units (26) that had work have been pressed. If it has not been pressed, the process moves to the above-mentioned completion 1o (26) check.

If it is determined that all completion buttons (26) for which work has been done have been pressed, the completion button (24) on the display panel is lit and then waits until that button (24) is pressed. do.

When the button (24) is pressed, the completion button (
24) and press the push button (
19), the shelf-side indicator lamp (23), and, if necessary, the unit indicator lamp (21) and the single item indicator lamp (22).

Next, it is checked whether there is any remaining work on the current shelf number, and if there is, the process moves to the above-mentioned check of push gO (19). On the other hand, if there is no remaining work, a process is executed to turn off the shelf number where the work has been completed, and then it is checked whether there is any remaining work on the current shelf row.

If there is remaining work on the current shelf row, the above shelf row N○
Shifts to reception check processing.

On the other hand, if there is no remaining work, the shelf row number where the work has been completed
After turning off the light, it is checked whether there is any remaining work on other shelf rows, and if there is, the process shifts to the above-mentioned process of checking reception of the shelf row number.

[Another example]

As the mobile vehicle (A), vehicles with various configurations, such as those equipped with propulsion wheels, can be used.

In the above embodiment, the container (7) is used for collection, but the storage frame (1) may be used for direct collection.

Further, in the above embodiment, the article retrieval information instruction means (101
) illustrated the case where only the shelf position is specified on the shelf side, but
The quantity may also be indicated on the shelf.

Also, a communication means (17) for communicating between the moving vehicle side and the shelf side.
(18) In addition to communication devices using optical signals,
Various changes can be made, such as using a communication device that uses electromagnetic wave signals, or configuring a so-called ID card with communication and storage functions on the shelf side and a read/write device on the moving vehicle side. .

In addition, when transmitting work data for collecting goods to the moving vehicle,
Instead of using the IC card (13), various changes can be made, such as transmitting information through communication between the work controller (SC) and the mobile vehicle controller (IC).

In addition, various changes can be made to the specific configuration of each part necessary for carrying out the present invention.

Incidentally, although reference numerals are written in the claims section for convenient comparison with the drawings, the present invention is not limited to the structure shown in the accompanying drawings.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

The drawings show an embodiment of the article collection equipment according to the present invention, and the first
The figure is a schematic plan view of the article collection equipment, the second figure is a front view of the shelves,
Figure 3 is a side view of the moving vehicle, Figure 4 is a block diagram showing the control configuration, Figure 5 is a plan view of the display panel, Figure 6 (A),
(n) and (++) are flowcharts showing control operations. (1)... Goods storage section, (2)... Shelf section, (17), (18)... Communication means,
(23)... Goods indicator, (100)...
・・Destination information instruction means, (101) ・Old ・Article retrieval information instruction means, (A) ・Old ・・Moving vehicle, (B) ・・・
··shelf.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A mobile vehicle (A) is provided with an article storage section (1), and a shelf (B) for storing a plurality of types of articles in a divided state is arranged in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle travel path. Storage means for storing work data for collecting articles from the shelf (B) is provided on the moving vehicle (A) side, and is arranged along the shelf (B). ) is provided with destination information indicating means (100) for instructing which of the shelf parts (2) partitioned in the longitudinal direction the destination information should be run, and information in the storage means and each shelf part (2). The article collection equipment is equipped with article retrieval information instruction means (101) for instructing article retrieval information from each shelf section (2) for each shelf section based on sorting information for sorting whether the A communication means (17) for transmitting sorting information for sorting each of the shelf parts (2) is arranged corresponding to each of the shelf parts (2), and the communication means Communication means (18) for receiving information of (17)
) is provided on the moving vehicle (A) side, in a state in which the received information is transmitted to the article retrieval information instruction means (101). 2. The article retrieval information indicating means (101) uses a retrieval target article indicating device (23) placed on each shelf portion (2).
Both communication means (17) and (18)
2. The article collection equipment according to claim 1, wherein the device (23) also serves as a means for transmitting operating information for the pick-up article pointing device (23) from the moving vehicle side to the shelf side.